River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-04-07

action against the outlaw. and the
words We're uttered at a time when any
diversion was welcome. To mortals
condemned 10 the endless solitude and
soul-wearying monotony Of those vast
level plains. the time must come when
even q scrape, Is hailed with glad
relief.
Thar he i. boys shouts Tom
Jenkins. Thar, Ketch him and he's
your'n,'
a devils prize at the best: but here
goes muttered Thompson, pushing
forward with the boy beside him.
Hi! The dogs are at him. with banks
that become yelps as the brindle gives
them a taste of his heels Down the
valley. over the uplands and the dry
creek bottoms. away they 90. in a noisy
race against the crisp west wind, 9
tornado Of Gathering hoofs, jingling
spurs. and loose trappings. The sun
beats hot upon them. the dust flies up
from the plain. One by one the dogs
sneak of to the rear. the ponies nag
vet old Abe IS a fresh for break of a
mile or so. rs ready for savage dash
AT timid horse or rider.
Give it up, He amt wuth it," cry
the weaker spirits, drawing rein upon a
/ hill. the defiant brute ewing them from
a safe distance do "a YOU please.
growled Long Jack. ..but IF YOU fellers
quit l won't that's ali.
Neither will !, D." put in Jimmy, look
ing foolish, a a laugh was raised ut his
expense.
The devil YOU WON'T retortcd the
other. Because a square look ut you
would scare him to death any day" He
turned swIy. glad to have avenged his
formerdefeat. Thatreadiness oftongue
which others laughed at and passed
over in the boy .ngered the hcrder I'M
accountably Besides. he felt sore ut
the failure of his boast to capture the
prize in an hour.
Come on, boys, proposed jenkins
Ny camps just around the bend. If
we can run him into the big stone cor
raj we've got him. sure: if not, lets
stop and take fresh start in the morn
ing.
..All right chorused the others.
Look we're, Jimmy. said Al Thomp-
son. as their two horses trotted down
the slope together. YOU jes' take my
advice an lei Jake alone. lt'sprecious
easy to cit him hot. an. they say he
killed man down on the Divide"
20. give Us rest, amt afraid
Why does he keep trying to rile me all
the time just because I'm boy. It's
too mean.
Go ahead; then. You're pretty
smart, Jim Rowell. but tell YOU ii don't
do no Teller good to be too smart;
mebbe you'll find it out some day"
The second chase proved no more
successful than the first Cunning Old
Abe put in his ..beSt licks' for their en-
lightcnment. and when they gave it up
still seemed unwearied Tom sprang
from his horse to do the honors of his
residence
=. Light, gentlemen. light and make
yourselves 1T home. Things i little
out OF order. consequent ON the missus
not having cot back from Saratogy. but
YOU Il find the mornin' papers in the
lih'rv. The KEY OF the planners on the
bureau in my dre>siu' room. IF YOU
Ike, take turns inadmirin' the scenery,
the long shadders Of the chickens fallin'
to the east ard. an the kinglv rooster
aS hc glide, forth from the barn.
The mansion whose hospitality was
offered in this graudiloquent style was
an extremely scaly-looking dug-out,
( probably measuring 10 by l2feet Out
side inspection revealed one small door
| and window. variegatej supply Of
ovstcr-canS. barrels and not a few
empty bottlcs-which last. however.
were mOde>tly disposed in the back
ground \ broom had been placed out
side. as if for display. bur donkey at
distance was SOlemnly making meal
of il. 4 small flock of emaciated
chickens gathered eNpectautly in vain
for Tom had the masculine habit of
neglecting his chickens Two thrifty.
looking objects redeemed the appearance
of his ranches fine barn and a corral
with high stone walls. Yet he was
lord of many herbs. who might drive in
! his carriage if he pleased.
Without further study of this bachel-
or's hall. we will follow the herders is
( they make for the well. tired. thirsty.
/ Yet good-Hatured-al but Jake, who
finds jim dealing out water with tin
cup. the only one ut hand. His scowl
dcepened a trile with Impotence.
Here, IL, said Jim. looking from
+ Jake to Thompson. who stood beside
f him. age before beauty
The answering smiles stung the bor-
/ der vagabond. Snatching the cup and
+ tlinging the contents full in jim 5 face,
Clear Yourself, you young scamp
he ordered.
Flushing savagely the boy caught
something from his side. but Thomp-
sons powerful hand was on his arm.
What DO YOU mean. vou little fooI?''
+ he cried WAS this what YOU came
here for2 Jes' YOU ride home ez fast
/ az Won kin 20. " ne added taking him
aside. ..an for God sake don let your
Z FOLKS know of this. I'll not tell.
IF it had been any one but Jimmy
+ Soliloluizcd the good-humored fellow,
a he wort back to his companions. Il
/ shouldn't have cared. Jake amt very
+ pretty anyhow. an | reckon he'd make
a better lookiu' angel than anything
else
& JIM meantime. mounted ana rode
/ of without looking buck. Angry tears
forced themselves 10 his ewes aS he press
/ 81 on. taking no note of the road until
December sunset flames burned out
along the horizon. The Sudden twilight
warned him 10 seek some shelter for
the night which had already promised
4 to be- colder than usual. RE rode up a
+ deep gulch. di>mounted. fastened his
pony. and made brush fire. luckily
/ finding a few matches in his poeket.
/ Then nc leaned against the bank and
thought over the days events. Fiery
+ thoughts he had. until another idel
I made its entrance into his brain, COO
! inc them off a little
..What right had YOU there at all?'
in~iuuated conscience. or whatever re-
Elective faculty takes her place in a
boys mind. Had he not sttrte out to
4. hud poor little Kitty. who was now,
perhaps through his fault. living stiIl
/ and cold somewhere on the broad
/ prairie2 Jim liked Kitty Nichols. |
/ suppose any rough but kind-hearted
boy would have liked such a pretty,
bluc-eved mite. when she came running
t0 meet him with unfIilinr delight